I Have Pancreatitis, Now What?

Welcome to the world of having a new found respect for your stomach region and what it does for you every day. Pancreatitis sounds like a dreadful diagnosis and honestly, in some cases it’s a much needed wakeup call. The disease itself is usually a product of not taking stellar care of yourself, and I can say that wholeheartedly because I live with a chronic case of pancreatitis and have been for 9 years. I hate it, as you do as well most likely, but after some experimentation with various types of treatments, you can learn to manage the disease as best as expected.

Most likely if you’ve been recently diagnosed, you spent some time in the hospital and are now just trying to piece it all together. The first step to correcting your damaged pancreas is to come to grips with what caused it initially. For most its alcohol, {I’m fairly certain I consumed more drinks than necessary in my early twenties, but that was only one piece of my pancreatitis puzzle} and many drink on what they consider a “social basis” all to find out that is more than what you should be drinking regularly. The best thing you can do to help get back to a full recovery is to avoid the drinks, at all costs.

Take the medications your doctor suggested, these can be enzymes, vitamins, acid reducers, pain pills, and so forth. I recall at first having to take some of mine at night before I went to sleep because they made me feel drained, but to each their own. If you had to endure the fun world of eating through a PICC line, you are most likely on a very strict diet for now. Adhere to it as much as possible, as trying to go back to eating something heavy will always come back to haunt you. Your body isn’t ready for all of that food just yet, so take it slowly even if you’re craving a cheeseburger.

Surgery can often be a cure for pancreatitis, it wasn’t an end all be all for me but for many patients removing their gallbladder stopped their symptoms all together. I had mine taken out and still had the same issues, but if you have gallstones or pain from your GB, your doctor will set you up with a general surgeon to review the best outcome if you opt to remove yours. I haven’t really noticed any changes in how I process food since removing mine, so after you get past the initial healing stage it’s typically life as usual for most.

The best piece of advice I can give to those suffering from pancreatitis is to become a health nut. Remember that you are what you eat, and if you start embarking on a path of natural health, and eating more organically, your insides will thank you. The less amount of processed foods you consume, the healthier your pancreas becomes. It can repair itself after pancreatitis attacks if you truly take charge of it. Little changes like not drinking coffee, eating sugary foods, or fattening ones can greatly improve your symptoms. Best of luck, and seek the help of a nutritionist if you need additional details on meal planning or specific items for vegans or lactose intolerant patients.